1918 Taranaki by-election

The Taranaki by-election of 1918 was a by-election in the Taranaki electorate on the west coast of the North Island. It was held during the 19th New Zealand Parliament, on 10 October 1918. It was caused by the death of incumbent MP Henry Okey of the Reform Party and was won by Sydney George Smith, the son of previous Taranaki MP Edward Smith,[1] who stood as an independent Labour candidate. Smith supported the war effort unlike most Labour politicians, gaining him support of voters who likewise supported the war.[2]

1918 Taranaki by-election
10 October 1918 (1918-10-10)
Turnout74.19%
 
Candidate Sydney George Smith John Connett
Party Independent Labour Reform
Popular vote 2,840 2,680
Member before election

Henry Okey
Reform

 Elected Member

Sydney George Smith
Independent Labour

Result

The following table gives the election results:

1918 Taranaki by-election[3]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Independent Labour Sydney George Smith 2,840 51.44
Reform John Connett 2,680 48.55
Majority 160 2.89
Turnout 5,520 74.19 -12.62

Notes
  1. Lambert, Ron. "Smith, Edward Metcalf". Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  2. Bassett 1982, p. 23.
  3. "Taranaki By-Election". The New Zealand Herald. LV (16978). 11 October 1918. p. 4. Retrieved 7 January 2016.

References
  • Bassett, Michael (1982). Three Party Politics in New Zealand 1911–1931. Auckland: Historical Publications. ISBN 0-86870-006-1.


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